Female founder initiative launches Newcastle board

A new business initiative is aiming to unlock greater investment opportunities for female-led enterprises across the North East.

The Whole Point officially launched its Newcastle board last night (May 13) at an event at The Biscuit Factory, bringing together more than 100 business leaders, founders and investors focused on increasing funding for women-led businesses.

Co-founded by entrepreneur Zandra Moore MBE and sponsored by Lloyds, The Whole Point is a UK-wide initiative designed to improve access to investment for female founders and support high-growth businesses outside London.

Regional boards have been established in Newcastle, Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool and Edinburgh, with organisers targeting areas where funding disparities remain significant.

According to data from The Data City, women-led businesses in Newcastle currently receive just 7.3 per cent of the city’s total funding.

The initiative says closing that gap could help unlock a wider economic opportunity, with research suggesting an additional £250 billion could be added to the UK economy if women-led businesses were supported to scale more effectively.

That funding imbalance does not just restrict women-led businesses – it limits the region’s wider economic potential.

Zandra, in her opening remarks, said: “I’ve been in too many rooms where there’s lots of nice talking. 

“Now, we need to act. 

“£250 billion is the gap – if we close that gap, that’s more money for the economy, and more money for jobs, so everybody wins.”

Leading the Newcastle board are chair Debra Leeves and vice chair Nina Walton, who are working to increase capital investment into women-led businesses across the region and attract new funding opportunities into the North East.

The initiative also aims to raise the profile of female founders who have surpassed £1 million in revenue, with businesses featured through its Elevate Series including Tiba Tempeh, Magnitude Biosciences, Circadacare, Tyneside Cinema and Live Theatre, whose stories can be read via The Whole Point’s LinkedIn page.

Organisers say the programme’s focus on data-led action and building stronger investment networks sets it apart from previous initiatives, with the overriding message from Newcastle’s launch event clear – the conversation has happened, now it is time for meaningful action.

Debra added: “Women-led businesses do not have lesser ideas or products - they’re just as good or better. 

“But women are less able to scale because of a lack of funding. 

“We need to open more doors for women. 

“We need to lift each other up.”

Supporters and sponsors attending the launch event included Lloyds, Perspective Financial Group, Square One Law and The Biscuit Factory.

Learn more and join The Whole Point at www.thewholepoint.co.uk or through The Whole Point’s LinkedIn page.

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